New presidential candidate talks the economy, North Korea and reaching out to rural America

Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks to a small group on Monday at Prairie Heights Middle School, 3737 65th Ave., in Evans, in October, 2018. Hickenlooper was visiting the school on his farewell tour. (Joshua Polson/jpolson@greeleytribune.com)Joshua Polson

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper isn’t buying what President Donald Trump is selling.

Hickenlooper, who announced his formal bid for the White House early Monday, said in an interview with The Denver Post that he believes the nation’s economy should be performing much better and that Trump, who won in part due to his support from rural America, isn’t doing any favors for soybean farmers in Iowa or Kansas.

“I think an awful lot of what Trump has been delivering has been catering to a set of fairly narrow self-interest and not addressing the broader issue,” Hickenlooper said.

Other topics he discussed with The Denver Post include North Korea, cybersecurity and how to re-establish faith in America’s elections. This interview has been edited for clarity.